professional athlete, entertainers, artists (p1)


P2 Artistic Exchange The P2 classification applies to an alien coming temporarily to perform as an artist or entertainer individually or as part of a group, who will perform under a reciprocal exchange program between an organization in the U.S. and an organization in another country. Petition Document Requirements The I-129 petition must be filed by the sponsoring organization, an employer in the U.S., or the U.S. labor organization that negotiated the agreement. The petition must be filed with:


  • A written consultation by an appropriate labor organization;
  • A copy of the formal reciprocal exchange agreement between the U.S. organization(s) sponsoring the alien and the organization(s) in a foreign country which will receive the U.S. artist or entertainer;
  • A statement from the sponsoring organization describing the reciprocal exchange of U.S. artists or entertainers as it relates to the specific petition for which classification is sought;
  • Evidence the alien and the U.S. artist or entertainer subject to the reciprocal exchange agreement are artists with comparable skills and that the terms and conditions of employment are similar;
  • Evidence that an appropriate labor organization in the U.S. was involved in negotiating, or has concurred with, the reciprocal exchange of U.S. and foreign artists or entertainers.


Culturally Unique


P3 Culturally Unique Artists The P3 classification applies to aliens coming temporarily to perform, teach or coach as artists or entertainers, individually or as part of a group, under a program that is culturally unique. Petition Document Requirements The petition should be filed by the sponsoring organization or employer in the U.S. with:


  • A written consultation from an appropriate labor organization;
  • Affidavits, testimonials or letters from recognized experts attesting to the authenticity of the alien's or group's skills in performing, presenting, coaching or teaching the unique and traditional art forms and giving the credentials of the expert including the basis of his or her knowledge of the alien’s or group’s skills.
  • Documentation that all of the performances or presentations will be culturally unique events, and;
  • Documentation that the performance of the alien or group is culturally unique as evidenced by reviews in newspapers, journals or other published materials.


P1 Support


P1, 2, or 3 (Accompanying Support Personnel) This category applies to accompanying support personnel who are highly skilled aliens coming temporarily as an essential and integral part of the competition or performance of a P1, P2, or P3. Essential support personnel must perform support services which cannot be readily performed by a U.S. worker and which are essential to the successful performance or services of the athlete or entertainer. Petition Document Requirements The petition must be filed in conjunction with the petition for a P 2 alien by a U.S. employer and must be filed with:


  • A written consultation with a labor organization in the skill in which the alien will be involved;
  • A statement describing the alien's prior and current essentiality, critical skills and experience with the principal alien;
  • A copy of any written contract between the employer and the alien or a summary of the terms of the oral agreement under which the alien will be employed.